On July 13, one of the prominent Indian cricketers, Yashpal Sharma passed away at the age of 66 due to a cardiac arrest. He was among Kapil's Devils who brought home the World Cup by defeating West Indies in 1983. Unfortunately, Mr Sharma, who was excited and eagerly awaiting the release of Kabir Khan's '83, is not among us to watch the story being retold. The film, based on Kapil Dev & Co's victory, will be releasing in theatres on December 24 after a long delay.
Jatin Sarna, who plays Yashpal Sharma in '83, spoke to PeepingMoon about the void left by the ace cricketer. The actor got emotional as he recalled his training days and how Mr Sharma taught him the nitty-gritties of the sport. Jatin further opened up about why '83 is an important film.
Excerpts from the interview:
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'83 is getting a solo theatrical release after waiting for almost 2 years. Can we say it is a win-win situation for the entire team?
It will be a win-win situation if the audience watches '83 in theatres, but with all precautions, as we have another variant of COVID-19. It is a film made for theatres and will also release in 3D. That's our main aim and hence we chose to wait for theatres to reopen. It was very easy for us to opt for OTT, but we didn’t. As an audience member, I can say that the film is well-made.
Why do you feel the story of Kapil's Devils needs to be retold now?
In India, cricket is a religion. 1983 World Cup was our national team's first victory and that too against the mighty West Indies. It was a historical event as nobody had imagined that. India was mostly ignored and not many wanted to record our matches. The team fought for that cup and their struggle has been highlighted in '83. Moreover, the story is immortal as it is not just about the World Cup win but about your confidence to turn the table. The film gives out a message that if you want to achieve something in life, you can do it in any circumstance.
Cricket and films are like religions in India. It is like you have already won half the battle, isn’t it?
Yes, of course. Many films have been made on sports in Bollywood. Filmmakers add thoda sa masala to make them look interesting. But in the case of '83, there was no need for additional drama. Yes, we had to research a lot, put in efforts to design the sets and also shoot the film. '83 mein voh saare emotions hai joh ek film mein hone chahiye. It has highs-lows, tears-laughs, disagreements-unity and much more. Ek voh historical event tha joh 1983 mein hua tha, ab yeh ek historical event hai joh theatres mein hoga jiske hum part hai.
You play the role of Yashpal Sharma. Did you train with him?
Yes, Yashpal sir had come to Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala where we were training. On the first day, I observed the way he sat, talked, walked, ate and other mannerisms. The next morning, he joined us for practice. He taught me his batting style, his body language and how he behaved in front of the opponents. The game of cricket has totally changed now. Back then, cricketers would rarely express their excitement on the ground. If they would strike a 4 or 6, they would give fist bumps. But now, people scream, do wrestling actions and what not. Tabhi log over the top nahi jaate the. When we would get excited while practising, they would calm us down. Most importantly, I wanted Yashpal sir's guidance because I wanted to live the character from within. I didn't want to just look like him but feel him. Jab film bana rahe the, tab hum sab actors ne un characters ko jiya hai. We called each other by their characters.
We lost Yashpal Sharma in July. He didn’t get a chance to watch the film. How went in your mind when you heard about his demise?
I don’t know how to answer this because I was blank at that time. I never imagined such a thing could happen. Of late, he was working out to get back in shape. His wife Renu and daughter Preeti told me that he was focused on achieving his goals. Yashpal sir wanted to get back in shape to wear the same suit he wore during the 1983 World Cup to the film's premiere. Kapil Dev’s daughter Amiya Dev called me to give me the news. I was in shock. I was in constant touch with him. I wanted him to give his feedback, but now, that won't be possible.
Also, we, the team of '83, felt Yashpal sir didn't get his due. He wasn't credited enough for his contribution. We wanted to give him that due through '83. What a tragedy that he is not with us to see that moment. Jab voh zinda the, unko due nahi mila. Ab voh nahi hai, toh kaha se milega? Whenever you will watch the film, you will remember one person for sure and that is Yashpal Sharma.
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Did Yashpal Sharma’s family members watch the trailer? What’s their feedback?
I shared the trailer with his family members. Renu Ma'am, his wife, liked it. She felt I imbibed his mannerisms well. She is very excited for the film.
'83 is an ensemble film headlined by Ranveer Singh. Do you think standing out in an army of actors will be a challenge? Do you fear not getting enough limelight?
Why would it bother? It is an ensemble film and we have made it that way. It is not only about one person. Yeh sabki film hai, koi kisko overshadow nahi karne wala. Everyone has done a fantastic job. Sabka aisa contribution hai ki kisi ek ko ignore nahi kiya jaa sakta. Kapil Dev played by Ranveer Singh is superb and so are we.
'83 is based on true events. It is often seen that there is additional pressure on the team of biopics or real incidents to make sure it is accurate. Do you sense any pressure or responsibility on your shoulder?
Not exactly, but yes, there is pressure because we want people to watch it in theatres. If you talk about the cricketing event, there is no footage available. What happened outside the field, nobody knows. We have done a great job and I am confident about that. Since it is a much-awaited film, there is nervousness. We really want people to watch it on the big screen, humne aapke liye hi intezaar kiya hai. Pressure toh film ke saath hi release ho jayega. Jaise har film ka pehla shot dete time nervousness hoti hai, vaise hi hai.
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